Regenerative agriculture continues to gain ground in Quebec, offering a promising solution to environmental and climate challenges. At the heart of this movement, Ste-Monique farmer Sébastien Angers stands out as an innovative and inspiring leader.
This article invites you on a journey through the fields of Ste-Monique, where Sébastien and his equally passionate collaborator, Jean-François Messier, embark on a cutting-edge research project in regenerative agriculture. Join us as we explore their commitment to community-rooted, grower-led research to discover an innovative research project in regenerative agriculture.
A Day with Innovators
Sébastien Angers, owner of Ferme de l’Odyssée in Ste-Monique and a trained agronomist, is constantly innovating and mobilizing his community to adopt more ecological and resilient practices in the face of climate change. On June 26, 2024, I had the opportunity to spend a full day with him and Jean-François Messier, a farmer in Saint-Césaire, visiting his experimental plots.
As most of my work at Regeneration Canada is done behind the computer, this day reminded me once again of the importance of these moments of connection with those who do the work in the field, inspiring farmers, dedicated agronomists and technicians, not forgetting our friends the earthworms, bees, and plants. ☘️🐝🪱
At Regeneration Canada, we’re committed to multi-stakeholder collaboration, believing that we need everyone’s input to transform our agri-food system. That said, it’s farmers who are our main partners in the transition, because it’s crucial that their experiences, strengths and needs are taken into account in changing the agri-food system. It is our network of producers dedicated to change for a sustainable future that makes our work possible.
Over the course of the day, we toured the experimental plots where Sébastien is testing various agronomic formulas based on the principles of regenerative agriculture, such as soil cover and no-till.
The Pumpkin Seed Project
This season, Sébastien is focusing on a regenerative pumpkin seed project that began in 2020. He is the first to grow pumpkin seeds on a large scale in Quebec and to do so with regenerative practices to prioritize the health of our soils.
His vision is to “partner with innovative farmers to develop the knowledge, know-how, and capacity to produce a sufficient volume to market pumpkin seeds grown locally according to regenerative principles throughout North America.” Thanks to a valuable partnership with the Quebec-based company Prana, he benefits from increased visibility and can share his work directly with consumers.
Sébastien grows a variety of pumpkins. The compact, bushier varieties are carefully spaced with 30 inches between rows, while their sprawling, vine-like counterparts require a more generous 60-inch spacing.
But it’s what happens between these rows that truly showcases Sébastien’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. Embracing no-till practices, Sébastien’s seeding method leaves the soil undisturbed, preserving its delicate structure and microbial life. The spaces between cash crops are far from bare – they’re alive with purpose-driven ground cover. This involves either intercropping with beneficial plants like ladino clover or using a cover crop like rolled rye or winter wheat, as shown in the photo below. These thoughtful practices serve multiple purposes: they act as a living mulch, locking in precious moisture, suppressing pesky weeds, and inviting biodiversity both above and below ground.
There is no shortage of challenges in this adventure, but Sébastien and Jean-François know that a strong community is essential. They devote much of their time to meeting new people and exposing themselves to innovative ideas, whether locally or abroad. In fact, Sébastien found the seeds for one of these varieties during a visit to Austria, a major pumpkin seeds producer.
Alliances at the Heart of Innovation
Sébastien is not only a farmer and an agronomist; he’s also an innovative thinker and an artist.
For him, soils and plant cover are the raw materials with which he creates flourishing ecosystems. He sees his plots as living works of art, evolving with the seasons and nourishing both humans and biodiversity in and out of the soil.
As for Jean-François, he comes from a family of egg and field crop producers. He started his own production after an initial career in social work in the community development sector. He has a good ability to forge links between different sectors and personalities, translating the realities of each so that our common goals are enhanced. He defines himself as a bumblebee, playing the role of pollinator.
The alliance of these two accomplices, with their complementary skills and shared vision, is a real force for innovation and effective mobilization in their community. Over the course of the day, we exchanged views on our shared vision of agriculture as a social project: an essential economic sector to feed and clothe us, but also a culture to nurture, a way of practicing reciprocity and developing our sense of belonging to the territory.
Research, Production and Partnerships
One of the biggest challenges in Quebec agriculture is the short growing season due to our harsh winters. Sébastien has found an ingenious solution by testing his protocols on different farms in Montérégie, Estrie, and Centre-du-Québec. This approach allows him to validate his methods in different contexts and expose his community to regenerative alternatives.
I don’t know about you, but before adopting something new, I often want to see it in other people’s homes. The same thing is true for farmers and agriculture: what’s better than seeing it at work in your own field before adopting it on a large scale?
For the 2024 season, 30 hectares of production will be divided between 12 partner growers in addition to Sébastien’s farm. Four growers, including Jean-François Messier, are teaming up on an area sufficient for harvest production. Eight other growers are partners in research only, with smaller plots to validate agronomic recipes.
Photos: Jean-François and Sébastien observe the pumpkin plants and the interplanted ladino clover.
Sébastien uses Design Thinking as an innovation methodology for his experiments. This approach allows him to validate the various parameters of his research. On a more technical level, he assembled a kit to bring from farm to farm, including a trailer truck, a GPS-equipped tractor, a DIY planter, and other specialized tools.
Collaborations with companies enable him to monitor various indicators of a future regenerative agronomic protocol, such as plant cover biomass, soil health, and the appropriate type of fertilizer. He is also working with Entosystem to validate frass as fertilizer for pumpkins.
Photos: Sébastien at the helm of his R&D setup in regenerative agriculture.
Towards Regenerative Agriculture
The day spent with Sébastien Angers and Jean-François Messier highlighted the crucial importance of partnerships in regenerative agriculture. Through strategic collaborations with local growers and innovative companies, Sébastien was able to test and validate innovative practices across different farms. This research is a prime example of a farmer initiative anchored in a network of collaboration and exchange. It bears the seeds for transforming our agriculture and facing environmental and climatic challenges.
At the same time, our involvement with research projects such as McGill’s Crop Diversity project shows that different players have different roles to play in making this transition a success. Together, through innovative practices and strong partnerships, we can strengthen the resilience of our agricultural systems and build a sustainable future for agriculture in Canada.
Would you like to contribute to this project?
The good news is that you can support this project by purchasing nutritious pumpkin seeds! If you’re interested in hosting a production or research plot on your farm, contact Sébastien Angers at sebastien.angers.regen@gmail.com.
